Our authors

The Student Teacher Files is published by the Critical Issues Class at Louisiana State University during the Fall 2015 semester. Students in the class are in LSU's PK-3 teacher education program. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors only. Readers are encouraged to contact the authors and to participate in dialog about these critical issues in early childhood education. Other teacher educator's interested in learning more about this project or related projects may contact Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner: jbaum@lsu.edu.



Alexis: Movement Matters, published October 23, 2015

Alexis is an Early Childhood Education major at Louisiana State University. She hopes to teach kindergarten back in her hometown after graduation. She enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her family and friends.

Melissa: Does Imagination Fit in the Education Puzzle?, published November 11, 2015

Melissa is a current student at Louisiana State University working on her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and minor in Business Administration. She has always believed in the power of a child’s mind.

Tina: Recess, published November 11, 2015

Tina is an Early Elementary Education major at Louisiana State University. Her dream is to teach kindergarten in her hometown. She loves to be at the beach, play soccer, and bake any and all kinds of sweets.

Roni: Money Isn’t Everything, published November 12, 2015
Roni is currently a senior at Louisiana State University majoring in Early Childhood Education. She is currently student teaching in 1^st grade and will continue to student teach in spring. She will graduate in May 2016 and could not be more excited. Roni is originally from Dallas, TX and looks forward to bringing her philosophy to schools and doing what she loves. Teaching.

Erin: Parents as Partners in Learning, published November 12, 2015
Erin is an Early Childhood Education Major at Louisiana State University. She is passionate about the education of young children and hopes to soon be a kindergarten teacher.  

Abbie: Recess is important, published November 13, 2015

Abbie is an Early Childhood major at Louisiana State University. She hopes to teach kindergarten in her hometown after graduation. She enjoys traveling and spending times with family and friends.

Kaitlyn: Mandating high quality preschool, published November 13, 2015

Kaitlyn is an Early Childhood Education major at Louisiana State University. She hopes to teach 1^st grade in her hometown after she graduates. She enjoys walking by the lakes and spending time with family when she is free.

Tabitha: Why Do New Teachers Quit?, published November 14, 215

Tabitha is a senior at Louisiana State University studying Early Childhood Education. She is from New Orleans, LA, and plans to return to her hometown to teach in the future. She enjoys music as well as spending time with family and friends.

Madison: Under Pressure?!, Published November 16, 2015

Madison is a senior at Louisiana State University majoring in Early Childhood Education. She has been working with young children since in the age of 11 and has a true passion for young children. Her dream is to open up her own preschool one day.   

LaKeisha:  Standardized Tests, published November 16, 2015

LaKeisha is an Early Childhood Education major at Louisiana State University graduating in May of 2016. After graduation she plans to return to her former elementary school to teach kindergarten. When she is not having fun teaching kids, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. 

Caroline: Calming the Anxiety, published November 17, 2015
Caroline is a senior at LSU working towards a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. She is from New Iberia, LA but anticipates to start out her teaching career in Baton Rouge. She enjoys spending time with her family and hopes to be an inspiration to children just as past teachers have been to her.

Carlye: Feel the Burn{out}, published November 18, 2015
Carlye is a senior at Louisiana State University. She is pursuing an early childhood education degree and currently student teaching. As of now first grade has her heart, but she will experience student teaching in a pre-kindergarten class so who knows what will happen post-graduation.

Meghna: The Decline of Outdoor Play in Schools, published November 19, 2015

Meghna is an early childhood education major at Louisiana State University. After graduation, she hopes to return to her hometown of Mandeville and teach Pre-K. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, volunteering, and being with family and friends.

Mary: Differentiation: Individualizing Instruction, published November 19, 2015

Mary Elizabeth is a senior in the Early Childhood Education program at Louisiana State University.  She interned at Brusly Elementary School (PreK), Rollins Place Elementary School(1^st Grade) during her junior year.  This semester, she is student teaching at MSA West (2^nd Grade).  She looks forward to being a PreK or Kindergarten teacher upon graduation.

Karah: Preschool: Whats the big deal?, published November 20, 2015

Karah is pursuing Pk-3 Teacher Certification at Louisiana State University. She is currently student teaching in second grade in Iberville Parish. Karah hopes to begin teaching kindergarten in the fall of 2016.

Megan: All Work and No Play, Published November 20, 2015

Megan is a senior at Louisiana State University and studies Early Childhood Education. After she graduates in May, she plans to go teach in Houston where her family lives. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, and attending LSU football games.

Brooke: Are Lockdown Drills Enough, published November 23, 2015

Brooke Price is senior pursuing her Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education at Louisiana State University. After graduation, she hopes to return to her hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana and begin her career of teaching. Her favorite thing to do in her free time is being with her friends and family.

Kristen: The Importance of Nutrition on Healthy Brain Development, published December 2, 2015

Kristen is in her senior year as Early Childhood Education major at LSU. She hopes to gain some experience in kindergarten or 1^st grade after graduating. Her goal is to one day teach young children abroad.

Katie: Turnover Rates in Child Care Settings, published December 3, 2015


Katie is an early childhood education student at Louisiana State University. After she graduates in May 2016, she plans to return to her hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana and begin her teaching career. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, painting, and spending time with family and friends. 

Sari: Inquiry: An official investigation, published December 5, 2015

Sari Jo is an Early Childhood major at LSU. She plans on moving back to Shreveport, La after graduation in May 2016. She has loved being able to experience such a wide variety of students and schools over the past year and a half. She has loved it so much that she is still unsure of which grade she wants to teach. Sari Jo enjoys any type of adventure while spending time with friends, family, and God above all else.